December 27, 2013

You know what I've been craving lately? Some warm, comforting Asian food. Some cold winter days just call for Asian food. Am I right or am I right? Notice I didn't give you the option that I'm wrong.

P.F. Chang’s is a modern restaurant with an Asian and American inspired menu from your typical classics to seasonal dishes. They serve it all... appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and drinks! Every time I've been, I've HAD to order the Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I remember doubting how good a lettuce wrap could be. I doubt no more. It's my favorite thing on their menu that I've tried... so far. And you can't go wrong with their Crab Wontons!

I'll never forget the time a big group of my female coworkers dined at P.F. Chang's, and my bestie wanted to order a plain piece of chicken and fries. Silly lady. P.F. Chang's is NOT the place for boring plain chicken and soggy fries. It's so much more than that. It's an experience.

And two new handcrafted holiday beverages – Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino, and Vanilla Bean Bourbon Milkshake. And by beverages I do mean alcoholic beverages :)

I would try both dessert wontons for sure! I'm not much of a peppermint fan, but that vanilla bean bourbon milkshake sounds perfect! You had me at bourbon. What a way to round out a tasty meal!

So now maybe you've got some Christmas spending money, maybe even a gift card to P.F. Chang's... if so now would be a great time to stop in to try out their holiday menu items. You'd really hate to miss out on the chance to try those dessert wontons and holiday beverages! Maybe I'll see you there :)

December 24, 2013

Ok, if any of you are like me or my fiancee, you still have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do. For those of you who are all finished.... I like to call you overachievers! :) Or am I an underachiever?

Anyway, if you're looking for some last-minute Christmas gifts for the foodie in your life, look no further! Here's a not-even-close-to-complete gift guide for foodies. They'll love you long time.

December 20, 2013

I've missed you!!!!I apologize about the lack of recipes this year month. It's the end of the fall semester, PLUS I started two new Saturday classes at the end of November. So wrong! You think you're done with the semester, but then 2 new classes sneak up on you like BAM! No break for you! But I do get a nice little holiday break from school. I'll take it :)

This nail polish would be the perfect last-minute Christmas present for the girlies in your life!

I've never eaten one, but I have an unhealthy obsession with macarons and their cuteness. I mean come on guys, Penguin Macarons with Eggnog Ganache? I get it. You're now also obsessed with macarons and their cuteness.

How are you guys on Christmas shopping? Done? Almost done? Haven't started? I hate leaving mine to the last minute. I have about half done but am feeling the pressure! PJ cracks me up... he usually goes on Christmas eve and buys all of my presents (he's so busy at work in December so doesn't have time earlier than that, and I buy for his side of the family) and gets it all done the day before Christmas. Boys!

Come back soon for a post about last-minute gift ideas for the foodie in your life.

December 6, 2013

Did you all have fantastic Thanksgivings? I did, I did! Busy, but fantastic. We spent Thanksgiving day eating yummy food at my mama's house. Then Friday I met up with some grade school friends :) Always fun. Saturday we had another Thanksgiving dinner at PJ's mom's house. Again, yum. She's the best cook! Sunday I made my own little Thanksgiving dinner of Roasted Turkey Breast, Creamy Cranberry Salad, Stuffing Muffins, and No-Drippings Onion Gravy. It all turned out delicious! I wish I had gotten better pics. Maybe I'll post recipes next Thanksgiving :)

Not quite ready to let go of fall yet, especially with these Mini Caramel Apple Pies. Ever since a coworker let me try some straight-from-KY Apple Pie Moonshine, I've loved all apple-flavored alcoholic beverages, including my current fave beer, Angry Orchard Ciders. These homemade Apple Spice Cocktails? Yessssss.Apparently I'm really feelin caramel apple right now. Doesn't the photo for these No Bake Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake in a Jar make you wanna lick your screen?? How can you make a pound cake even better? Add apple bits to the batter and then drench it in caramel. Ok done.

I know you all are probably with your families and friends eating delicious turkey and watching parades, but I've got a recipe I wanted to share with you. Today I'm sharing a trusty, easy, leave-it-to-the-slow-cooker cranberry sauce recipe.

You're already busy enough on Thanksgiving day, right? Why add to the stress when you can let your crockpot do the work on this delicious Thanksgiving side item?!

And it's fancy because it has apples in it, along with a hint of orange and ginger. Sounds good, eh? Well, it is!

I mean, food is one of the few things I look forward to everyday. You too? I wake up thinking about what's for breakfast, after I eat breakfast I'm thinking about lunch, and after lunch I'm already daydreaming about dinner. Food DEFINITELY goes on that list of things I'm thankful for. As do these Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions.

Place
the bacon in a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook the bacon
until it is golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel to
drain. Crumble and set aside. Discard all but 1 teaspoon of the bacon fat. Add the olive to the bacon fat and set the skillet over medium heat.

Add
the onions and cook and cook until the onions are golden
brown, stirring occasionally. Add the fresh sage and cook for 1 more minute.

Place
cubed potatoes in a large saucepan and cover potatoes with cold water.
Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain
potatoes, return to saucepan and set over medium heat, stir the
potatoes until dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to
keep potatoes warm.

In
a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, butter, remaining
salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir occasionally until butter is
melted. Reduce heat to low. Using a heat-proof rubber spatula, stir the potatoes into the milk mixture, mashing until completely combined. Stir the caramelized onions and bacon into the mashed potatoes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Fall
will be over soon. So I'm cramming in all things pumpkin while I can! Savory
and sweet pumpkin recipes!! Ever since we made these yum-yum Savory Baked Pumpkin Flautas,
I have a whole new outlook on the use of pumpkin in recipes!

Grad
school is no joke. Not only am I always tired, stressed, and have no time for
things I enjoy like blogging, I also am making less money because I have to
work less at my job, and more at my intern site where I MAKE NO MONEY! What is
with this rule that interns don't make money?! Hello, we work our butts off. I
feel like I'm working the hardest I have in awhile (ever?) and not getting paid
for it majorly sucks. I just keep telling myself this will be over in a year or
so and just have to hope that it will all be worth the struggle in the end.

I'm
starting a new set of classes tomorrow morning. Yep, Saturday. That's another
reason grad school sucks. Classes all day on Saturdays. Saturdays should only
be for shopping, relaxing, drinking, and other fun things.